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Tag Archives: Reeva Steenkamp

On Monday the prosecutor confronted Pistorius about his emotional outbursts implying that it was contrived. This is from the article I will link below:

“Nel also accused Pistorius, who has wept repeatedly throughout the trial, of turning on the waterworks to gain sympathy and avoid answering tough questions.

‘Mr. Pistorius, you are trying to get emotional again,’ Nel said.”

He also said that the story Pistorius was giving was tailored to his benefit and not even probable:

“ ‘Your version is so improbable that it cannot possibly be true,’ ” he (Nel) said.”

An interesting fact I heard for the first time is that Reeva’s jeans were laid out on the bed as if she were getting ready to leave. Oscar said they were inside out as she had taken them off. Also Pistorius also had to admit that he did not check to see if Reeva was in the bed as he claimed before. Overall a very strong day for the prosecution.

Tuesday, after five brutal days being grilled by prosecutor Gerrie Nel, Pistorius finally got some relief. His attorney took over and asked him why he called this an “accident.” He said “I mean the situation, and the situation as a whole, it wasn’t meant to be.”

The defense then called forensic geologist Roger Dixson to the stand. He went into the lighting conditions in the rooms that night.

Wednesday continued with Dixon who disagreed with the cause of Reeva’s back wounds. He said they were from a magazine rack and not a bullet ricochet. Nel (prosecution) bit into Dixon by implying he was not an expert in ballistics: “Nel took every opportunity to discredit Dixon, including questioning his ballistics evidence when he said none of the bullets missed Steenkamp, while the state expert had said one did.

‘You see how irresponsible it is to make inferences in areas where you’re not an expert?’ Nel told him.”

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel (also known as “The Bulldog”) took on Pistorius and his story starting at the end of the day Tuesday and continuing last Wednesday. Pistorius had a difficult time keeping his story straight. He also referred to the shooting as “a mistake”, prompting Nel to say “You made a mistake? You killed a person. You killed Reeva Steenkamp, that’s what you did,” Nel said. “You killed her. Won’t you take responsibility for that?” Later Nel showed a picture of the devastating head injury to Reeva and Pistorius began crying forcing another adjournment. For more on Wednesday’s testimony here’s the link:

On Friday Nel said that Reeva was standing behind the toilet door because they were still arguing right before he shot her. Pistorius responded with “That’s not true.” After Pistorius gave his account of what happened the night Reeva was killed Nel questioned why he did not check on Reeva before the shooting. He also pointed out that if Pistorius felt so vulnerable on his stumps (as he has claimed throughout the trial) then why did he approach the door where he felt an intruder was hiding? For more:

Today the prosecution rested it’s case. The defense has said that Pistorius will take the stand. Barry Roux, defense lead attorney, asked that he have until Friday to prepare for his case. After yesterday’s damaging texts from Reeva the defense countered by presenting loving texts. Pistorius was in tears while these were read. Roux also showed video of the couple kissing and being playful days before the murder. Other witnesses expected for the defense include Pistorius’s sister and brother who arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting.

1. “I get snapped at and told my accents and my voice are annoying. i touch your neck to show u i care you tell me to stop. Stop chewing gum. do this don’t do that.”

2. “I’m scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me… I do everything to make u happy and to not say anything to rock the boat with u. you do everything to throw tantrums in front of people.”

3. “u are very quick to act cold and offish when you’re unhappy… every 5 seconds i hear how u dated another chick.”

4. “i am the girl who let go with u even when i was scared out of my mind to. i’m the girl who feel in love with u and wanted to tell u this weekend.”

Also today a neighbor agreed with previous testimony that she heard a female scream then a male and then 3 shots. The defense said it was not a female, but Pistorius screaming and the shots were actually the bat hitting the door. The witness stuck to her story. For more here’s the link:

The ballistics expert took the court through the series of bullets shot by Pistorius into the bathroom where Reeva was. He claimed that Reeva was standing when she was first hit in the right hip. She then fell back and was hit in the right arm and head as she tried to protect herself with her arms over her head. The fourth bullet that struck her in the head killed her. This means she would have screamed after the first non-fatal wounds. The defense disagrees but this is in alignment with the pathologist. Pistorius is expected to testify next week.

After testimony today the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel asked for the trial to be delayed until next week. Friday is a holiday in South Africa. There was testimony today from a ballistics expert who described how Reeva was standing in the bathroom when hit by the first bullets. He continued with how he felt the rest of the assault unfolded. As expected the defense badgered the officer but the officer stuck to his story. Pistorius put his fingers in his ears during this testimony.

Pistorius got sick again today (twice) when the pics of poor Reeva were shown briefly, prompting HLN’s Vinnie Politan to Tweet: “Do you believe he was really sick?” After yesterday’s witness finished up today about the damages to the bathroom door, there were 2 police investigators on the stand. First up was G.S. Van Rensberg, who arrived after the paramedics. Reeva was already dead. Photos were shown of the blood trail down the stairs and the gun as well as other evidence. Along with the cricket bat there was a key to the inner door of the bathroom. The second officer, Vermeulen, demonstrated how he believed Pistorius swung the bat against the door. He, like yesterday’s witness, also concluded that Pistorius was on his stumps. As expected the defense attorney Roux tried to discredit both officers.